Satanists Seek Monument at Oklahoma Statehouse

Republicans trying to bring church and state closer together in Oklahoma have opened the door to an unlikely group: Satanists. To recap, a Ten Commandments monument was installed at the Capitol Grounds last year with funding from the GOP-controlled legislature, despite outcry from legal experts who called it unconstitutional. The ACLU's Oklahoma chapter even sued for its removal. In the meantime, the Satanic Temple stepped in, saying hey, since you're open to merging church and state, we'd like to have a monument there too, the AP reports.

Temple spokesman Lucien Greaves said he's thinking pentagram design or possibly interactive display for kids. It would "be in good taste and consistent with community standards," he said. Rep. Mike Ritze, who championed the Ten Commandments display, had no comment—but Greaves tipped his hat to him, saying Ritze is "helping a satanic agenda grow more than any of us possibly could." The Oklahoma Legislature would have to approve the project, which hardly seems likely in a Bible Belt state. "I think these Satanists are a different group," said a state GOP rep. "You put them under the nut category." (More Satanism stories.)